Asian Journal of Medicine and Health 12(2): 1-9, 2018; Article no.AJMAH.41595 ISSN: 2456-8414
Serum Lead and Micronutrients Levels in Public Transport Drivers in Osogbo, Nigeria Ayu Agbecha1* and Ajayi K. Eyitayo2 1
Department of Chemical Pathology, Federal Medical Center, Makurdi, Nigeria. Department of Medical Laboratory, 33 Artillery Brigade Medical Center, Bauchi, Nigeria.
2
Authors’ contributions This work was carried out in collaboration between both authors. Authors AA and AKE designed the study and wrote the protocol. Author AA wrote the first draft of the manuscript. Authors AA and AKE performed the statistical analysis. Author AA managed the analyses of the study. Authors AA and AKE managed the literature searches. Both authors read and approved the final manuscript. Article Information DOI: 10.9734/AJMAH/2018/41595 Editor(s): (1) Giuseppe Murdaca, Professor, Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Italy. Reviewers: (1) Franco Cervellati, University of Ferrara, Italy. (2) Ioana Stanciu, University of Bucharest, Romania. (3) Claudia Yolanda Reyes, University of the Amazon, Colombia. Complete Peer review History: http://www.sciencedomain.org/review-history/25898
Original Research Article
Received 16th March 2018 th Accepted 20 May 2018 th Published 16 August 2018
ABSTRACT Background of Study: Toxic exposure to lead (Pb) in humans occurs through environmental and occupational sources like leaded gasoline. Despite the ban on the use of leaded gasoline by many regulatory authorities due to its adverse health effects, Nigeria remains among nations using leaded fuel. Aim: The study aimed to determine toxic lead exposure to gasoline fumes and its impact on plasma levels of micronutrients (zinc [Zn], copper [Cu], and calcium [Ca]) in public transport drivers in Nigeria. Materials and Methods: The case-control study, compared serum micronutrient levels of 40 occupational lead exposed public transport drivers with physically matched 40 non-occupational lead exposed civil servicemen. The concentrations of Pb, Zn, Cu and Ca in the serum of the study subjects were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. Results: Results analyzed with the t-test showed that mean serum lead level in public transport drivers was significantly (P=0.000) high compared to the control group. Also, micronutrient levels _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ *Corresponding author: E-mail:
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Agbecha and Eyitayo; AJMAH, 12(2): 1-9, 2018; Article no.AJMAH.41595
were significantly (P=0.000) lower in occupational than non-occupational lead-exposed men. Pearson correlation analysis results showed significant positive correlation between Cu and Ca (r=0.481, P=0.002), Zn and Cu (r=0.635, P=0.000), Zn and Ca (r=0.456, P=0.003). Whereas an inverse but non-significant correlation between lead and Cu (r=-0.275), lead and Ca (r=-0.130), lead and Zn (r=-0.121) was observed at the 0.05 level. Conclusion: In conclusion, the study results indicate that exposure to lead can significantly decrease serum zinc, copper, and calcium. The decrease in micronutrient level in the drivers could be through renal loss, mediated by the nephrotoxic effect of lead.
Keywords: Gasoline; lead; zinc; calcium; copper. Due to the poor economy of the nation, many Nigerian vehicles lack maintenance and are driven without air condition systems on poorly maintained roads [4]. Consequently, a large number of vehicles emit fumes composed of unburnt hydrocarbons and lead into the atmosphere, polluting the air [6].
1. INTRODUCTION Gasoline or petrol is a transparent, volatile and highly flammable extract of crude oil composed mainly of aliphatic hydrocarbons. It is used as fuel in internal combustion engines of automobiles and power plants [1]. The characteristic of a gasoline blend to resist igniting too early (causing knocking) is measured by its octane rating. Additives are thus introduced into gasoline to increase its octane rating for better performance, reduction in fume emission and prevention of engine knocking [1]. Tetraethyl lead is among the anti-knocking agents added to enhance the performance of gasoline.
Lead is the most important environmentally toxic heavy element [7]. It is widely and abundantly distributed in the world [8]. Human exposure to lead and its compounds occur through occupational and environmental sources like leaded gasoline, water, leaded paints, pottery, battery recycling and printing works [9]. The main source of human exposure is air and 90% linked with leaded gasoline [5]. Lead is a highly toxic metal affecting almost every organ in the body, with ingestion, inhalation and dermal contact as routes of body exposure [7]. There are reports in many countries determining community exposure to environmental toxic lead and its impact on health [10]. Although there are no national surveys of blood lead levels in the general Nigerian population. Previous studies reported by other authors indicate very high blood levels of lead [11-14] compared with acceptable serum (
